Introduction
Running a mental health charity is no small feat. It takes a dedicated, compassionate, and highly adaptable team to ensure children, young people, and adults receive the support they need to navigate their mental health journeys. In this blog, we invite you behind the scenes for a day in the life* of our charity team. From morning check-ins to late-night crisis support, every moment reflects the commitment and teamwork that underpin our mission.
*Note: We’ve picked just some of the work that goes on in our day, as an incredibly busy team, our whole day would be more novel than blog.
Our Mornings
Team Check-In and Planning
The day begins with each team member setting the stage for the hours ahead. This is the time to review cases, discuss new referrals, set priorities, and share updates on ongoing work.
Collaboration is key, as each team member contributes to brainstorming solutions and delegating tasks to ensure no client or project is overlooked.
Meet Stephanie
Our superhero Administrator, Stephanie, ensures that everything runs smoothly behind the scenes. She coordinates referrals, books appointments, responds to emails, sends out wellbeing reports to clients, and schedules review meetings. Her incredible organisational skills keep the team functioning like a well-oiled machine.
Community Engagement and Support Work
By mid-morning, the team is deeply immersed in client-facing activities. Depending on the day, this could mean delivering Creative Mentorship sessions in schools, running workshops in workplaces, or hosting online Creative Mental Health Programmes. For others, it might involve one-on-one support sessions with clients, either in person or virtually.
Meet Carly
One of our brilliant Project Workers, Carly spends her morning supporting a client through our bespoke Creative Mentorship Programme. With her empathic approach and creative problem-solving, Carly helps clients build practical tools to manage their mental health. After each session, she records detailed notes and provides the client with an overview letter summarising the skills they’ve practised, ensuring they can continue to benefit long after the session ends.
Collaboration is at the heart of our work, and partnerships with local services like the NHS, CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services), Social Services, Early Help Teams, and food banks enable us to provide support to those in need.
Lunchtime: Reflect and Recharge
Lunchtime is an essential part of the day for the team to step back and prioritise self-care. Each team member takes their break in a way that works for them. With access to Calm Premium, some choose to meditate, others go for a walk, and a few unwind by listening to podcasts or music.
For those who have had particularly challenging sessions, this is also an opportunity to debrief with colleagues, ensuring they receive emotional support and maintain their mental resilience. By prioritising their own wellbeing, team members are better equipped to support others.
Our Afternoon
Afternoon: Behind-the-Scenes Operations
We’d like to shift the focus of this day in the life to the essential behind-the-scenes work that keeps the charity running.
Activities include:
- Fundraising: Writing grant applications, planning community events, or liaising with donors to secure the resources needed to deliver services.
- Marketing and Outreach: Crafting social media posts, drafting newsletters, or engaging with online communities to spread awareness about mental health.
- Administration: Updating databases, ensuring compliance with regulations, and responding to general enquiries from the public.
Meet Lish
Our Marketing Officer, Lish, spends her afternoon scheduling social media posts for the month. She also adds writing prompts to our Facebook Group to encourage members to reflect on their feelings and express themselves creatively. Her work ensures our message reaches as many people as possible while fostering a sense of community online.
Late Afternoon: Crisis Support and Debrief
As the day winds down, the team remains on hand to provide last-minute support to clients who may be in crisis. This might involve responding to a live chat message or taking a call from someone who needs urgent help. The team’s quick responses and compassionate approach often provide a vital lifeline to those in distress.
At the end of the day, informal chats allow the team to reflect on the impact of their work, celebrate successes, and share strategies for tackling challenges. These moments of connection strengthen the team’s bond and reaffirm their shared mission.
One evening, the team received a live chat from a client in crisis. Thanks to their prompt action and empathetic communication, they were able to guide the individual to a safer and calmer place, demonstrating the critical role of responsiveness in mental health support.
Finally
A day in the life of a mental health charity team is a mix of structured planning, direct support, creative problem-solving, and constant adaptability. It’s challenging but immensely rewarding work that changes lives.
If this glimpse into our world has inspired you, there are many ways to get involved. Whether by volunteering, donating, or simply spreading the word about mental health, you can help us make a difference. Together, we can create a more supportive and understanding world for everyone.
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Introduction
Running a mental health charity is no small feat. It takes a dedicated, compassionate, and highly adaptable team to ensure children, young people, and adults receive the support they need to navigate their mental health journeys. In this blog, we invite you behind the scenes for a day in the life* of our charity team. From morning check-ins to late-night crisis support, every moment reflects the commitment and teamwork that underpin our mission.
*Note: We’ve picked just some of the work that goes on in our day, as an incredibly busy team, our whole day would be more novel than blog.
Our Mornings
Team Check-In and Planning
The day begins with each team member setting the stage for the hours ahead. This is the time to review cases, discuss new referrals, set priorities, and share updates on ongoing work.
Collaboration is key, as each team member contributes to brainstorming solutions and delegating tasks to ensure no client or project is overlooked.
Meet Stephanie
Our superhero Administrator, Stephanie, ensures that everything runs smoothly behind the scenes. She coordinates referrals, books appointments, responds to emails, sends out wellbeing reports to clients, and schedules review meetings. Her incredible organisational skills keep the team functioning like a well-oiled machine.
Community Engagement and Support Work
By mid-morning, the team is deeply immersed in client-facing activities. Depending on the day, this could mean delivering Creative Mentorship sessions in schools, running workshops in workplaces, or hosting online Creative Mental Health Programmes. For others, it might involve one-on-one support sessions with clients, either in person or virtually.
Meet Carly
One of our brilliant Project Workers, Carly spends her morning supporting a client through our bespoke Creative Mentorship Programme. With her empathic approach and creative problem-solving, Carly helps clients build practical tools to manage their mental health. After each session, she records detailed notes and provides the client with an overview letter summarising the skills they’ve practised, ensuring they can continue to benefit long after the session ends.
Collaboration is at the heart of our work, and partnerships with local services like the NHS, CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services), Social Services, Early Help Teams, and food banks enable us to provide support to those in need.
Lunchtime: Reflect and Recharge
Lunchtime is an essential part of the day for the team to step back and prioritise self-care. Each team member takes their break in a way that works for them. With access to Calm Premium, some choose to meditate, others go for a walk, and a few unwind by listening to podcasts or music.
For those who have had particularly challenging sessions, this is also an opportunity to debrief with colleagues, ensuring they receive emotional support and maintain their mental resilience. By prioritising their own wellbeing, team members are better equipped to support others.
Our Afternoon
Afternoon: Behind-the-Scenes Operations
We’d like to shift the focus of this day in the life to the essential behind-the-scenes work that keeps the charity running.
Activities include:
Meet Lish
Our Marketing Officer, Lish, spends her afternoon scheduling social media posts for the month. She also adds writing prompts to our Facebook Group to encourage members to reflect on their feelings and express themselves creatively. Her work ensures our message reaches as many people as possible while fostering a sense of community online.
Late Afternoon: Crisis Support and Debrief
As the day winds down, the team remains on hand to provide last-minute support to clients who may be in crisis. This might involve responding to a live chat message or taking a call from someone who needs urgent help. The team’s quick responses and compassionate approach often provide a vital lifeline to those in distress.
At the end of the day, informal chats allow the team to reflect on the impact of their work, celebrate successes, and share strategies for tackling challenges. These moments of connection strengthen the team’s bond and reaffirm their shared mission.
One evening, the team received a live chat from a client in crisis. Thanks to their prompt action and empathetic communication, they were able to guide the individual to a safer and calmer place, demonstrating the critical role of responsiveness in mental health support.
Finally
A day in the life of a mental health charity team is a mix of structured planning, direct support, creative problem-solving, and constant adaptability. It’s challenging but immensely rewarding work that changes lives.
If this glimpse into our world has inspired you, there are many ways to get involved. Whether by volunteering, donating, or simply spreading the word about mental health, you can help us make a difference. Together, we can create a more supportive and understanding world for everyone.
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